CHICAGO — Sports fans have an insatiable appetite for what comes next, so even as the extraordinary college basketball freshman class including Jabari Parker, Julius Randle and Andrew Wiggins was preparing for its entry onto the big stage at the United Center, the heart of next year’s excellent freshman class was stealing a bit of the spotlight.

Center Jahlil Okafor of Chicago’s Whitney Young, Sporting News’ No. 1 player in the class of 2014, got the buzz started when he declared on Twitter, “I'm excited to announce my college decision on Friday Nov 15th, 3pm at Whitney Young high school. Be there and thanks for all the support!”

Jahlil Okafor (247Sports Photo)

It was discovered soon afterward he would be announcing on the same afternoon (and at the same time) as fellow Chicago big man Cliff Alexander of Curie Metropolitan (SN’s No. 5 prospect) and point guard Tyus Jones of Apple Valley, Minn. (No. 2). The early signing period for letters of intent begins Wednesday; the players could commit without choosing to sign.

They are three of the seven uncommitted players among Scout.com’s top 20 recruits. Jones and Okafor, teammates on the United States 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship team, have pledged on multiple occasions to attend school together. They first met as opponents in a junior AAU game and then as teammates at the U16s.

“We came out for USA, and we just kind of reconnected,” Okafor told Sporting News in June. “We just clicked. First, we clicked on the court. Off the court, it was really just as good. He’s one of my best friends.”

Said Jones: “That’s like my brother. We’re great friends. That’s the main reason why we want to do this. Set aside from how well we play on the court is how well we have a bond off the court. That’s why we want to do something special.”

Okafor is a 6-11 center reminiscent of Tim Duncan. Jones is a 6-2 point guard who most resembles a young Chris Paul.

Okafor announced in October he would choose among Baylor, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky. Jones cancelled his recruiting visit to Kentucky because the Wildcats accepted a commitment from Chicago-area point Tyler Ulis, telling Scout.com, “I wouldn’t say they are out, but …” He has visited Baylor, KU and Duke.

Alexander is most comparable to Clippers star Blake Griffin – an overpowering, athletically dynamic power forward who could function as an electric center in college. Alexander wants not to be limited to operating near the goal, so he has been working hard on developing a mid-range jumpshot.

He took all five of his recruiting visits: to Arizona, DePaul, Illinois, Kansas and Memphis.